I watched the final Olympics concert and it was a gathering and celebration of achievement. Worldly and in some parts irreverent but the organization behind it was spectacular. The final finished as they began with fireworks songs and speeches and now the crowds turn and headed home. The stadium falls silent. The roars of the crowd are stilled. The competitors will return to their home countries, some carrying Gold Silver and Bronze, whilst others with the glory that they were there to compete. Few will forget however that they watched and were a part of this year’s 2012 Olympics. We watched the drama, the tears and the joys as each athlete ran for the final glory of a gold medal. We watch the joys of those who won and the tears of those who did not.

But there has been another Olympics in progress that few have watched; I suspect this Olympics have gone unnoticed by the vast majority of this world population. But the drama and tension is just as real and the tears, the hopes and the challenges no less great. The heroes of this Olympics will not be seen on the front page of your local newspaper, but record of their achievements has been kept.

This Olympics have been running for longer than most realise and they will not finish until each and every competitor has crossed the finishing line. On that day what we saw the other night will be nothing in comparison. The glory of that celebration will be spectacular. The organizer of this event will be God himself. Every detail calculated and every moment factor in.

Hbr 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

The challenges of those who run is no less great, no less a drama from every nation these athletes’ will be gathered. From every background and every age they will come.. Let me introduce you to another Olympics. Let me introduce you to the true Olympics. Brothers and sister welcome to the opening ceremony with Brother Abel lightening the fire of the first sacrifice. Although killed by his brother the flame he light that day has continued. The burning example has never died out. Carried by every runner and as each has passes hands the baton on to those who still labour in the race.

Enoch will take the stage next and introduce us to opening ceremony. In a spectacular colour he is taken to heaven. Next comes Noah the boat builder whose courage won him a place when the heavens opened up and the world was flooded. Then Brother Abraham called out of the Ur and began the long distant runner. Wherever he stood that would become the ground his descendants would inherit. Now the thing to remember is that they did not just run a race with perfection, they had their hurdles, their falls, and their scrapes to contend with. They had their disappointments and pulled a few bruises on the way. But the reality is they ran and they ran to victory It’s not in the starting that matters most but reaching the finishing line. Each of us are encourage to run that we might win.

Hbr 11:6But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We enter with the assurance that we don’t run in vain. We run with the promise that there is a reward at the end. We run in order to gain a greater reward than just some gold medal.

Luk 15:10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Every sinner who repents there comes a cheer from heavenly angels; another competitor has entered the race and another runner who has taken his position at the starting line.

1Cr 9:26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1Cr 9:24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

What we are running is not a gold medallion, but to hear the greatest prize of all the words “enter good and faithful servant” On that day all the heartache and pains, all the sufferings will pass. All the tears will be wiped away. Joy of that moment will last forever.

Hbr 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The roll of honour reminds us that many have started the same race before us and won glory in finishing their run. With their roll comes the encouragement to focus on the end goal. Like any runner we are in training to endure, to build up the muscles needed to make it to the home.

Here is the winning line to focus on:

Hbr 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let his passion and conviction become ours. His humility was to lay aside heavens glory , clothe himself with flesh and blood. To know what hunger and thirst was so that he could offer the eternal. Because he made the choice to run this life’s race, can we do anything less than follow such a glorious example. Even when many look on and call us fools to dream such dreams. Idiots for believing such glory could be ours. Whilst we are mocked , scourge and rejected we choose to run this race. When others joke and laugh at our course. Let us be reminded of Jesus sacrifice and remember he did it for us.

Hbr 11:39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: and having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect

Rev 7:9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rev 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

I suppose I looked at the final ceremony and saw more than just a global enterprise of athletes, But another gathering whose numbers could not be numbered. The cheers as they are introduced. There are no losers in this race, only winners. Although each will receive a reward for the race they ran. The celebration on that day will be beautiful, glorious and the splendour will be out of this world. Such glory and singing no earthly sound can compare. What wonder and what A DAY that will be. The beauty we shall behold will be indeed glorious.

It will all be centered on the one who made it all happen, and centered stage will be God himself. Run the race my brothers and sisters, run to win, compete with every fibre you have. Take courage by those whose lives have served as an example. One day we will all be gathered together and the roll of honour of those who have run will be called out . My greatest desire is that you will also be there.

Remember this we don’t run this race alone. We have angels ministering to us, The Holy Spirit as our personal chief trainer, No one can do a better job than this trainer. So run with passion and conviction. Run that the one who has sponsored us God himself gets all the glory.